FAIR COMPETITION
In response to the editorial published Aug. 29 in The Western Producer, the Calgary Stampede understands industry interest in the rare situation of a steer being disqualified from the Calgary Stampede Steer Classic competition.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide additional perspective on this serious matter.
The fact is that an animal in a competitive, cash prize event was disqualified for a violation related to drugs within the animal’s system.
We do not view this disqualification as a black eye, as your editorial suggests, but rather as our responsibility to safeguard our reputation for fair competition with high ethical standards.
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Throughout this situation, the Calgary Stampede has been respectful with its public statements and fully open and transparent with the individuals involved. Any suggestion to the contrary, and particularly in this case, is simply not true.
This matter has been handled in an expeditious and considerate manner, while also being sure to exercise due diligence.
Independent scientific data has been thoroughly reviewed, personal accounts have been investigated and rule applications carefully studied. Communication and disclosure with the steer’s owners have been consistent and ongoing.
The owners of the disqualified steer have received all of the information that we possess, including the comprehensive blood test results.
The Stampede has offered the parties an opportunity for a review of the disqualification and to present relevant material that has not been shared with the Stampede.
This process is underway and until it is complete, the Stampede will respectfully decline to debate the details of this serious matter through the media….We find it deeply unfortunate that media coverage and individual comments from those connected to this incident have cast doubt upon the integrity of (our) hardworking volunteers…
It takes a special type of volunteer to deal head on with difficult situations, and we are fortunate to have such folks as part of our ranks. We would expect that people within the industry would fully appreciate the necessity for respect in these situations, even though they may disagree with the outcome.
The agriculture community prides itself on such values.
As you note, the Calgary Stampede Steer Classic is the top competition of its kind in Western Canada. That is not by accident. We have more than 100 years of history and a reputation for attracting strong entries, running a great show, and continually evolving and improving….
The Calgary Stampede will continue to implement rules and practices to ensure fair and safe animal competitions, and we will come down solidly and decisively upon violations.
We believe this is what our exhibitors, stakeholders and public expect and deserve, and we believe this is what builds confidence and respect when it comes to the use of animals in competition and food production.
Paul Rosenberg,
Vice-president, programming
Calgary Stampede
Calgary, Alta.
NOT ENTERTAINMENT
Re: Photo on page 4, WP Aug. 15, “Running with the bulls.”
I am troubled by some of the information in the caption below the photo. It sounds to me as if the participants are choosing potential “suicide by bull.”
This should not be seen as entertainment, and I trust the cost of the firefighters and paramedics was borne by the sponsors-promoters and the participants and not the taxpaying public.
Ian Reeve,
OPEN MARKET SUCCESS
Eric Sagan makes some wildly false claims in his letter to the editor of Aug. 22, grasping at straws in his attempt to suggest the return to an open market in wheat and barley has not been positive for prairie farmers.
Contrary to his claims, farmers are now reaping the benefits of marketing freedom, earning higher returns and enjoying much greater flexibility in the delivery and pricing of our grain than we ever did under the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly.
We are now receiving better grades and have far more competitive options in selling our grain.
Not surprisingly, a recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that 81 percent of prairie farmers say the move to an open market has had a positive impact on their business.
Mr. Sagan accuses the Western Canadian Wheat Growers of being publicly funded. That is utterly false. Our association receives no government funding and instead earns our support through voluntary contributions from farmers who share our passion for open and competitive markets. The move to an open market has been a tremendous success, and no fabricated claims, from Mr. Sagan or others, are going to change that.
Levi J. Wood, MBA,
President, Western Canadian Wheat Growers
Saskatoon, Sask.
UNBALANCED ARGUMENTS
In a recent submission to the Western Producer (“Honeymoon is over,” Aug. 22), Eric Sagan provides an alternate reality based on ideologically tainted ideas with an argument that is short on facts.
First, Mr. Sagan reports that wheat is currently “selling near $5.50 per bushel.”
I collect cash prices daily from the majority of grain buyers and locations in Western Canada.
The average public price for a “base grade” of wheat on Aug. 21 was $6.64 per bushel, the lowest average cash price since Aug. 1, 2012.
If “base grade” wheat is being sold at $5.50, it’s not competitive with the main channels. If Mr. Sagan is the one selling it there, I suggest he do some shopping around for better prices.
Mr. Sagan also reports the number of producer cars is down 40 percent this year.
There is no new impediment to loading producer cars. CWB and others will buy all the grain you want to sell in a producer car, so the lack of the single desk has nothing to do with the lower interest in producer cars. I suspect the lack of financial benefit has a lot to do with it.
Without the single desk around, grain companies are competing for your business much more aggressively. This has cut into their margins and farmers are reaping the rewards.
It also means that the financial benefit of loading a producer car — avoiding charges at the elevator — is a lot lower, making loading a producer car much less interesting. Lower interest in producer cars because the costs of going through an elevator is lower is not a bad thing.
Also, more and more, producers are loading what are called “dealer cars,” which aren’t tracked by the CGC (Canadian Grain Commission) as producer cars. So the number of “producer-loaded cars” may in fact be growing while “producer car” numbers are dropping.
I’m not sure why Mr. Sagan wants to continue the single desk debate but since he seems to, I suggest he sticks to balanced, complete arguments based on facts that can be backed up, and avoid the rhetoric.
John De Pape,
Winnipeg, Man.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Justin Trudeau gained knowledge from his father, Pierre Trudeau, and is making no apologies to the Canadian citizens for smoking pot.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe I ever heard apologies from Pierre Trudeau for his actions either, which included the constant efforts to equalize incomes across the country as part of his calls for a “just society.”
This included experiments on wage and price controls, nationalizing industrial sectors and redistributing wealth from one part of the country to another. Pierre also expanded social welfare and unemployment insurance.
The result was higher unemployment, more national debt and alienation of the West and official bilingualism, a failed costly policy for all governments and business.
Ken Kellington,
Devon, Alta.
